$$$-E-MAIL-$$$-CONGRESS-VOTES

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I received a message from a community prep. group this afternoon which states that congress will vote on whether or not e-mail will be charged as long distance calls. If I could foward it here I would (don't have the equipment), however, I don't think they will mind if I give the address, since they suggested to spread the word and write to your representative.I think it was announced on CNN earlier. Anyhow, this is Rogue Valley Community Prep. Group ------ countdown@rv-y2k.org

-- Just another Bill (Bill'splace@the.country), February 04, 1999

Answers

I received this email, which says it all:

Your local telephone company has filed a proposal with the FCC to impose per minute charges for your internet service. (This cost will of course be transferred to the customers/you.) They contend that your usage has or will hinder the operation of the telephone network. Internet usage will diminish if users were required to pay additional per minute charges. The FCC has created an email box for your comments, responses must be received by February 13, 1999. Send your comments to isp@fcc.gov and tell them what you think.

Every phone company is in on this one, and they are trying to sneak it in just under the wire for litigation. Let everyone you know here this one. Get the e-mail address to everyone you can think of. isp@fcc.gov Please forward this email to all your friends on the internet so all our voices may be heard!

-- fran (franprevas@yahoo.com), February 04, 1999.


PLEASE READ THIS FROM THE FCC SITE Pasted directly from: http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Common_Carrier/Factsheets/ispfact.html

THE FCC, INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND ACCESS CHARGES

This fact sheet offers informal guidance on an issue that has generated a great deal of public interest. For more specific details about the proceedings currently before the Commission, please visit our web site (http://www.fcc.gov/). http://www.fcc.gov

In December 1996, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requested public comment on issues relating to the charges that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and similar companies pay to local telephone companies. On May 7, 1997, the FCC decided to leave the existing rate structure in place. In other words, the FCC decided not to allow local telephone companies to impose per-minute access charged on ISPs.

Please Note: There is no open comment period in this proceeding. If you have recently seen a message on the Internet stating that in response to a request from local telephone companies, the FCC is requesting comments to by February 1998, be aware that this information is inaccurate. ********************************************

Now, my very first inclination after reading the well intentioned post was to go directly to the FCC to check this matter out from the source. It would do to make this a specific practice before printing "rumor and inuendo" received at random.

A good lesson in "avoiding" unnecessary PANIC.

Mr.K

-- Mr_Kennedy (y2kPCfixes@motivatedseller.com), February 04, 1999.


I am no financial expert, but what would happen to the internet based stocks on the market if we all had to pay for access to the web? NASDEQ would crash in a New York minute.

-- Bill Solorzano (notaclue@webtv.net), February 04, 1999.

Lol, I believe it would crash in an oh-no second!

-- Mr_Kennedy (y2kPCfixes@motivatedseller.com), February 04, 1999.

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